Lieutenant Al Murray Retires

35 years of Service but…Still Counting!

On Tuesday April 26, 2011, the Irvine Police Department said goodbye to its most tenured member.Lieutenant Al Murray is retiring after 35 years in law enforcement.

Friends, family, City officials, and a 35 year-long collection of colleagues attended a standing room only presentation for Lieutenant Murray.

Lt. Murray started his career in 1976 as a reserve officer at the Santa Ana Police Department.In 1977 he was sworn in as an Irvine Police Officer beginning his long and diverse career with the City of Irvine.He worked in Patrol Operations as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Crime Scene Investigator,Irvine Spectrum Supervisor, Patrol Sergeant and ultimately, as a Lieutenant- Watch Commander.He spent time in traffic, initially as one of the original four Motor Officers, and lateras a Traffic Sergeant,In addition to his various field assignments, Lieutenant Murray worked Investigations as a Juvenile Crimes and BurglaryDetective, and as a Detective Sergeant and Sergeant in Professional Standards. He held administrative positions as well, serving as the department’s first recruiting Sergeant and then promoting to be the Lieutenant in charge of the Office of Professional Development.

During his career, Lieutenant Murray received many honors and awards, including the 1984 Officer of the Year award, a Medal of Valor, Employee of the Quarter in 2006, a Meritorious Service Award in 1988, and multiple Unit Awards.

A graduate of Rio Hondo in 1978, Lieutenant Murray was the Honor Cadet of his class.He continued his formal and professional education throughout his career, graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from University of Phoenix in 1986, and a Masters Degree in Business Administration in 1990 from NationalUniversity.Additionally, Lieutenant Murray attended the Police Officer Standard and Training (POST), Supervisory Leadership Institute in 1996, and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Senior Management Institute in 2002.

Although Lieutenant Murray will be leaving Irvine, he will not be retiring from public service. He has a long history with the City of Tustin, serving on the Community Service Commission from 1997 through 2007, the Tustin Planning Commission 2007-2011, and he currently serves as a City Councilman.